Human-iliac vein replacement with a tissue-engineered graft

The modification of a previously described technique to generate venous conduits in a lamb model from a decellularised matrix and autologous cells and its application to human tissue is described. A 49-year-old woman underwent surgery for a large malignant pelvic tumour (carcinoma of unknown primary) involving the right iliac artery and vein. The right iliac artery was reconstructed with a cryopreserved human arterial allograft. For iliac vein reconstruction a tissue-engineered neo-vein was developed utilising a decellularised cryopreserved vein allograft that was reseeded in a bioreactor with autologous endothelial cells derived from the recipient's great saphenous vein. Both interposition grafts were patent initially, after 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, but the tissue-engineered neo-vein had become obstructed due to evolving disease four month postoperatively. Tissue engineered neo-veins may be a therapeutic option in selected cases with symptomatic vein stenosis or obstruction not curable with interventional methods or standard prosthetic replacement.